Executive Summary
The Chat SDK has launched a new adapter for WhatsApp, allowing developers to build and deploy bots on the platform using the same single codebase already used for Slack, Discord, Teams, and others. The new adapter supports core messaging features, multimedia content, and interactive reply buttons. It also automatically handles platform-specific constraints, such as message length limits and the 24-hour reply window.
Key Takeaways
* New Platform Support: The Chat SDK now supports WhatsApp, extending its "write-once, deploy-anywhere" approach.
* Core Functionality: The adapter supports sending messages, reactions, typing indicators, and read receipts. It also handles downloads for images, voice messages, and stickers.
* Interactive Features: The SDK can render "cards" as interactive reply buttons, with a limit of three options per message.
* Smart Handling: Long messages are automatically split to respect WhatsApp's 4096-character limit. Location sharing is supported via Google Maps URLs.
* Platform Limitations: The adapter adheres to WhatsApp's rules: editing/deleting messages is not supported, message history is unavailable, and bots can only reply within 24 hours of a user's last message.
* Availability: The WhatsApp adapter is available for use now.
Strategic Importance
This integration significantly expands the Chat SDK's value proposition by adding support for one of the world's largest messaging platforms, making it a more comprehensive tool for developers building multi-channel communication bots.